Two objects, one having three times the mass of the other, are dropped from the same height in a vacuum.At the end of their fall, their velocities are equal because:
A)anything falling in vacuum has constant velocity
B)all objects reach the same terminal velocity
C)the acceleration of the larger object is three times greater than that of the smaller object
D)the force of gravity is the same for both objects
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a vacuum, all objects fall at the same rate regardless of their mass because they are all subject to the same acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth). The correct explanation is not listed among the options. Choices A, B, C, and D are incorrect because: A) objects in a vacuum do not have a constant velocity but accelerate due to gravity; B) terminal velocity is a concept that applies when air resistance is present, which is not the case in a vacuum; C) the acceleration due to gravity is the same for all objects regardless of their mass; D) while the force of gravity depends on the mass of the objects (F=ma), this does not explain why their velocities are equal at the end of their fall in a vacuum.

Two Objects, One Having Three Times the Mass of the Other